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Botany Cemeteries History


The document was published originally within the book "A History of the Community of Botany" Written by Mrs Wm J Dunlop nee Katherine McBrayne 1866 - 1963. It was originally published as a series in the Ridgetown Dominion in 1963 and 1964. It was developed as a publishing project of the Kent Branch and transcribed by Nancy Cameron. Computer direction and supervision by Leslie Mancell and John Claus. Computer Manipulation by Bill Claus. With index by Leslie Mancell.
It was published by the Kent Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society in December of 1992.
This record is available by the Kent Branch of the OGS and can be digital ordered through their website at http://www.ogs.on.ca/kent/
(PayPal available)

Please note that We, at C-K Cemeteries, VERY highly recommend this book for it's interesting historical content. The following is a very tiny portion of the historical material available there.

Originally there were two cemeteries in Botany, one in connection with each of the churches and known as the Presbyterian cemetery and the Methodist Cemetery. A few years ago (at time of original writing of this document) they were united under the name of the United Cemetery of Botany and since that time they have undergone vast improvements. Formerly they seemed to be neglected spots, some of the plot owners caring for their plots while in many instances, long grass, weeds, briers and broken headstones prevailed and formed a desolate spot indeed.

There was a considerable awakening to the fact that these neglected cemeteries were a disgrace to a Christian community. Earnest men and women got behind the movement and there was much hard work to be done, briers and weeds to be cut and burned, the land levelled, headstones to be reset, new fences built, grass seed down, trees and shrubs planted. A wonderful transformation was soon noticed in those formerly neglected cemeteries.

Many of the original pioneers are resting there having bid farewell to their old homelands and venturing out to this new unsettled country facing the perils of a long sea voyage and untold hardships, privations, and loneliness, to hew out homes in which to establish themselves and families. Yet they counted it worthwhile because they were helping to build up this great land and to pass it on as a heritage to their children and indeed it is one of the best memorials that could have been established to those pioneers on the care now given to their lasting resting places.

These quiet sleepers ........

Some of those who left their homelands and everything dear to them to come to make new homes in this country never reached the Canadian shores and their bodies were committed to the sea. The sea is the largest of all cemeteries and the slumberers sleep without a monument. All other graveyards in all other lands show some symbols of distinction between the great and the small and the rich and the poor but in that ocean cemetery the king and the clown, the prince and the peasant are all alike, undistinguished. The same wave rolls over all. The same requiem by the minstrelsy of the ocean is sung to their honour.

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The following information was given on another page of the same book.

It describes how the Women's Institute decided to work to clean up and make repairs to the old cemetery which had become in very bad shape as we know them today. They enlisted the men of the area to help them out.

Quote... "On June 15 1912, the first bee was held. The cemeteries which had grown wild for many years with moss, briars, wild roses, thistles, and many other weeds required a great amount of labor and considerable expense. Five barrels of salt were purchased and spread freely over the ground and proved very satisfactory in killing the weeds. Men brought their ploughs, harrows, spades, shovels, and any other equipment which could be used. the ground was ploughed, harrowed, and levelled and grass seed sown.

Cement fences were built along the fronts of both cemeteries, costing the sum of $411.68 for these fences alone with other expenses added. Trees and shrubs were planted and soon the improvement was quite noticeable."

Each year the third....

It is only right that recognition and appreciation be recorded in this history as to the generosity and kindness of Mr and Mrs Charles A Watts (nee Miss Bell Weekes) of Thamesville who purchased and donated a piece of land for the extension of the cemetery grounds situated on the South side of the Howard Road and again the donation of $500 at the death of Mr Watts which occurred early in the year 1953.

Also is recorded the donation of land by Mr Spence to extend the cemetery grounds on the west side of Howard Road.

The report issued in May 1953 gave the Perpetual Up-keep Fund to amount to $5,308.00. (End of Quote.)

Jim Winter provided me with the following information, with the exception of the finding of the possible Potter's Field areas on each side. Those were found by dowsing and looking for certain characteristics normally related to Potter's Field's.

Jim mentioned that the Presbyterian Church (on the South West) side of the road was located on the property line VERY near to the spot where the Botany Line comes to form the "T" intersection. Dowsing found it's location right near a bed of tiger lilies at that exact location. The church was VERY near the road with it's front very near to the present stone fence located there. One of the earliest graves is that of William Steen located right near the back of the former church marked by a large white stone with a round spire on top. It is marked as 1822.

On the Methodist side (North East) one of the earlier graves is to a David Dickson in 1863. The later church there was a United Church located directly behind the new monument to the church.

On the North West side of the Presbyterian cemetery along the side if you go back you will see a somewhat empty space. Exactly in line with the back monuments of other family plots there is a line of baby's plots. Here is the beginning of what we believe by dowsing to be a Potter's Field. It actually goes right out to the actual side of the cemetery and in truth it goes underneath the farmer's field there for about twelve or 13 feet. Potter's Fields were extremely sad places, and were considered of little value since the people there were poor, convicts, suicides, unknowns, etc. Thus, it is certainly NOT unusual for them to be simply "Plowed over". It is VERY disheartening to find these areas and to think of the people who landed up there.

On the South East side of the Methodist Cemetery (London side of the road) at the back there are two visible open areas. We found very possible evidence of Potter's Fields in both of those areas as well. We can of course never be absolutely certain without written records, etc. And these are Potter's Fields. Seldom there were records of them. Once again, we find rows of plots of what is likely the graves of still borns and other babies. And the tell tale signs of them both being Potter's Fields. We did not look to see if there were other Potter's Field areas in this cemetery on this side. My guess is that it is likely.